Rs 536 cr for MSME dept in West Bengal

Kolkata, Feb 18 (KNN) Providing Rs 536 crore to the Department of micro, small and medium enterprises, West Bengal Finance Minister, Amit Mitra has said that Biswa Bangla Brand has been created to promote handloom, crafts, folk culture, music, GI products and other traditional items including sweets.Presenting his budget for the year 2014-15, Mitra said that West Bengal has occupied the top position in credit flow to the SME sector. He said that bank credit has grown by a staggering 105 per cent to Rs 8900 crore.Further, a textile park is being set up in Belur, Howrah on 75 acres of land.With regard to employment, the Government of West Bengal has created 13,22,000 new employment opportunities during 2013-14. It plans to create more than 16 lakh new employment opportunities in the next financial year.“With the objective of creating additional employment, a special thrust has been given to develop wayside amenities for tourists on important highways. 70 motels are being constructed. New tourist destinations are coming up at Jharkhali in Sunderbans, Gajoldoba in Jalpaiguri, Jhargram and other locations. The focus is to develop rural tourism, eco-tourism, tea tourism and other sectors,” Mitra stated.As far as the MSME sector is concerned, during 2013-14 upto December 4,794 new micro, small and medium scale units were established providing employment to around 50,370 people. “We plan to create more than 1 lakh jobs in this sector in the next financial year,” he said.Further, “during the current financial year, with the initiative taken by the Commerce and Industries Department, 150 units were commissioned with investment of Rs. 17,732.01 crore. As a result, till January, 2014, additional new employment of 1,29,364 was created in this sector, Mitra added.Reacting to the state budget 2014-15, Federation of Small and Medium Industries (FOSMI) is happy that the West Bengal budget for 2014-15 will help general more employment and offer additional credit access to the SME sector.

“The new employment in the SME Sector has been to the tune of one lakh already and more is planned. The Banks will layout more for the SME Sector. There is very good news for the MSMEs in the form of Micro Business Credit Card to be issued for loans upto Rs 5 lakh for small units by SBI from April 2014 onwards,” said FOSMI President, Biswanath Bhattacharya welcoming the proposal.